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Publications

The Transport and Communications Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific is a peer-reviewed journal published once a year by the Transport Division of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The main objectives of the Bulletin are to provide a medium for the sharing of knowledge, experience, ideas, policy options and information on the development of transport infrastructure and services in the Asia-Pacific region; to stimulate policy-oriented research; and to increase awareness of transport policy issues and responses.

The publication is the result of an analytical review, outlining the perspectives of ESCAP members and associate members with respect to progress towards, and fundamental requirements for, the realization of gender equality and women's empowerment in Asia and the Pacific.

Published since 1986 by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Asia-Pacific Population Journal (APPJ) brings out high-quality, evidence-based and forward-looking articles on a wide range of population and development issues in Asia and the Pacific.

This issue of the Asia-Pacific Population Journal contains the following articles:

This paper examines the skill needs of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, and the potential for these needs to be filled by migrant workers. It assesses the institutional structures with regards to skill development in countries of origin and destination and potential areas for future reform to bring needs and capacities into line.

Cities in developing countries across Asia-Pacific are struggling to effectively manage municipal solid waste (MSW). This is especially the case in secondary cities and small towns, which often face a lack of resources and know-how. Because the waste stream in these cities is usually high in organic content (50-80 per cent) and recyclable materials (10-20 per cent), waste-to-resource initiatives are viable options for sustainable MSW management.

Trade facilitation (the simplification and harmonization of import, export, and transit procedures) including paperless trade (the use and exchange of electronic data and documents to support the trade transaction process), has taken increasing importance as evidenced by the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement reached in December 2013, as well as the growing number of regional and subregional initiatives aimed at facilitating the electronic exchange of information along international supply chains.

This paper examines the legal frameworks governing international migration in North and Central Asia. It shows how these frameworks have developed since 1991 at the national, bilateral and subregional level, in both countries of origin and destination, and how effective these frameworks are at protecting migrants and ensuring that international migration in the subregion is safe, orderly, regular and responsible. To this end, it concludes with recommendations for future reforms.

Much hinges on the outcome of the World Trade Organization's Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in mid-December. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is marking the 20th anniversary of its establishment during the Uruguay Round, almost half a century after 23 countries set up its predecessor for trade in goods, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Yet the mood is far from celebratory. The downbeat feeling is more related to the question of the WTO's relevance, now and in future.

The rapid increase of the number of older persons, particularly the oldest-old - those above 80 years - increases the need for long-term care of older persons in the Asia-Pacific region. This working paper series examines the prevailing system of provision and financing of long-term care for older persons in selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The rapid increase of the number of older persons, particularly the oldest-old - those above 80 years - increases the need for long-term care for older persons in the Asia-Pacific region. This working paper series examines the prevailing system of provision and financing of long-term care for older persons in selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region.